Page 83 of The Ex Project
“There is nothing that would stop me from being here, Landry. You deserved to win. The arts centre only meant a lot to me because I was still trying to impress everyone around me. This—what you did—it came from your heart. Your big,sensitive, sweet, caring heart.” She pokes an index finger into my firm peck, right above my heart, the one that always has, and always will, beat for her. “This arts centre is for your mom, but it’s also for you. I’m here for you. This is your win.”
Something in me swells; it fills me up until I’m about to burst right here on the street. It takes over my face and leaves a smile in its wake. Joy. I take Wren’s face in my hands and kiss her deeply before pulling back and looking in her eyes.
“That means a lot to me, Miller.” She smiles back at me, as if mine was contagious and she caught it from me, too.
“Same team?” she whispers into the air between us.
“Same team,” I whisper back.
“There’s our power couple.” A voice causes Wren and I to turn away from each other and find Shelley wandering over to us. I sneak a glance back at Wren and the smile I had on my face widens. We are a power couple. Because we’re stronger together than we are apart. “If you see Norm wandering around handing out business cards, don’t take one,” she warns. “He’s started his own business as a nude model. Said if we’re only hiring professionals for the arts centre, then a professional he will be.” Wren laughs. It’s something she’s been doing more and more of lately.
Wren and I are okay. We’re better than okay. When I look at her now, I see someone who is confident in themselves, sure of their decisions. She’s gone through so much growth. She’s fought her way back to herself, she’s overcome her need to compete, to compare. She’s managed to reconcile what seemed like an irreparable rift between her and her sister. IfWren can overcome all her insecurities, then I can overcome mine, too.
I glance around at the sheer number of people gathered to celebrate the arts centre I designed—that I built. Now I see it, the value I bring. I might not have academic accolades like Wren, but I have heart. As she put it, a big, sensitive, sweet, caring heart. I love my community, and I love serving my community. I’ve learned to be content with the life I have, and that might be a rare privilege to be able to say.
“Wren, I need to tell you, everyone is in awe of the painting you donated to the arts centre,” Shelley says. “We’ve put it front and centre in the lobby. I hope you love it.”
Wren beams back at Shelley and thanks her. I’m so proud of her.
I give her hand three short squeezes.
“Oh, and by the way,” Shelley continues, “your Intro to Acrylics class is already full.”
“That’s amazing,” Wren says, her chin lifting higher. It’s all I’ve heard about for the last few months since Wren agreed to teach at the arts centre. In all the time I’ve known Wren, I’ve never seen her this excited for an opportunity before.
“Well, are you ready to do the honours?” Shelley turns to me now, handing me the comically large plastic scissors she’s carrying.
I leave Wren, and she immediately goes in search of Poppy, Ally, and Spencer. Emma is here, too, and I notice once I’m up at the front, facing the crowd, that Wren greets her with a warm hug.
Shelley stands beside me, holding a microphone, andonce the band has stopped playing and the din of the crowd dies down, she starts to speak.
“Welcome, everyone, to the official grand opening of Heartwood’s new, state-of-the-art arts centre!” The crowd applauds, and Shelley pauses before continuing. “This arts centre has been inspired by you, and has been designed for you, to celebrate the beauty of our community, both inside and outside the centre’s walls. The project was spearheaded by our very own Hudson Landry with McCall Contracting, and we are proud and honoured to invite him to do the ceremonial ribbon cutting. Go ahead, Hudson.” Shelley gestures at the scissors I’m holding out in front of me, and I hold them up to the ribbon barricading the threshold, slicing it down the middle. Several people clap, but the applause is cut short by Shelley coming back onto the mic.
“And with that, the build of the Cora Landry Centre for the Arts is officially open!”
Now, the people let loose hollers and whistles and frantic applause, but all I can do is stand there, stunned. A lump presses in my throat and I squeeze my eyes to ease the sting. The arts centre will be named after my mother. I wanted the design to reflect her, to keep her legacy alive, but this. This is more than I could have hoped for.
Shelley walks over to me, to where I’m frozen in place, and wraps her arms around me. I hug her back, sniffing back tears before anyone notices I’m crying.
“Thank you, Shelley,” I say, voice cracking, and she releases me from her hug.
“Don’t thank me,” she says, “the whole town voted on it. I was worried you’d find out about it toosoon and it wouldn’t be a surprise. You aren’t the only one who remembers her so fondly, hun. I might be new to Heartwood, but it only took me a few months to realize how special she was around here.”
“It means a lot.”
“I know. My own mother passed away at the end of last year. When I had to leave, it was because she went into the hospital for an infection. She never made it out.”
“I’m so sorry …”
“Thank you,” she says, but the look on her face isn’t grief-stricken, it’s almost relieved. “She lived a good life. And I’m glad I went back and got to see her. Even if it caused some turmoil between you and Wren.” She winks at me now, and the mention of Wren’s name has me searching the dispersing crowd. My gaze lands on her almost instantly, like it’s involuntarily drawn to her. She’s throwing her head back in a whole-hearted laugh, her old and new girlfriends gathered around her.
“Don’t sweat it,” I tell Shelley. “It all worked out for the best.”
CHAPTER 44
WREN
The moment Shelleyannounces the arts centre will be named after Cora, my eyes snap back to Hudson to see his reaction. He’s stunned for a moment, but then he swallows thickly and blinks several times in quick succession. Pride swells in my chest. Pride and happiness and all the ooey-gooey, warm and fuzzy feelings of watching someone you love succeed.
